2019 Men’s College Lacrosse Year In Review: #50 Marquette Golden Eagles

With the 2019 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to look back at how all 73 teams did during the season, along with an early look at each squad for 2020.

Note: These are not end of season rankings.

Here’s our last five Year In Review posts we’ve done:

• #55 Fairfield
• #54 UMass Lowell
• #53 Hofstra
• #52 Harvard
• #51 Manhattan

To see all of our posts, check out the 2019 Year In Review section on the site.

Let’s continue our 2019 Year In Review!

#50 Marquette Golden Eagles

Conference: Big East
2019 Record: 6-8 (2-3 in Big East)
Head coach: Joe Amplo (7th Season)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Tanner Thomson (26)
Assists: John Wagner (18)
Points: John Wagner (39)
Faceoffs: Jared Hershman (100-of-190; 52.6%)
Ground balls: Noah Richard (71)
Caused turnovers: Noah Richard (23)
Goals against average: John Hulsman (11.32 GAA)
Save percentage: John Hulsman (45.6%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: LSM Noah Richard (23 CTs, 71 GBs, 28.6% FOs, 4 Gs, 4 As), M Tanner Thomson (26 Gs, 12 As, 11 GBs), A John Wagner (21 Gs, 18 As, 20 GBs, 2 CTs), A Andrew Romagnoli (22 Gs, 5 As, 14 GBs, 4 CTs), D Jackson Ehlert (13 CTs, 27 GBs, 1 G, 2 As), D Brendon Connolly (13 CTs, 26 GBs, 1 A), M Bob Pelton (8 Gs, 3 As, 1 GB, 50% FOs), M Jack Zerrillo (4 Gs, 3 As, 6 GBs, 1 CT)
Senior scoring departing: 137 of 236 points (58.1%)
Senior starts lost: 67 of 140 (47.9%)

Season Summary

For the first time since joining the Big East in men’s lacrosse, Marquette failed to make the Big East Tournament. That came despite being a potential darkhorse to win the conference for the third time this decade.

The season started well for the Golden Eagles with wins over Bellarmine and Jacksonville. But that was countered with defeats from Detroit Mercy and Ohio State. Just like that, Marquette was 2-2 in the early part of the season.

Then came their lowest low. Several Marquette players were suspended for the Cleveland State game due to a violation of team rules. The Golden Eagles did not have their top six scorers and saw four players make their first career start. Despite their starting defense and Noah Richard playing, the Vikings came out with a shocking 7-5 win.

But that setback gave way to a three-game winning streak with close victories over Robert Morris, Michigan, and Georgetown in their Big East opener. A loss to Villanova was followed by a victory over St. John’s to bring Marquette to a 6-4 record and a 2-1 mark in Big East play. However, the season ended with a four-game losing skid, with their last two games, probably their two best games of the entire year, coming by a goal against Duke (in overtime) and Denver.

It was a very experienced team with the likes of Tanner Thomson, John Wagner, Andrew Romagnoli, Noah Richard, and Nick Grill leading the way on both sides of the ball. Richard ended up earning Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors, along with being selected in both the PLL and MLL drafts.

Looking Ahead

Not only are a bunch of impact players gone, so is two thirds of the permanent coaching staff. Joe Amplo headed to Navy to become their next head coach, while Stephen Brundage is reportedly going to Hobart to become their new associate head coach.

Enter former Marquette defensive coordinator and Yale assistant Andrew Stimmel back to Wisconsin, along with former Hobart offensive coordinator Peet Poillon to join Jacob Richard on the coaching staff. Stimmel was only at Marquette for one season in 2016, the team’s first Big East title, before going back to Yale.

Now in his first coaching stint, Stimmel is tasked to lead the Golden Eagles back to the Big East Tournament and perhaps even the NCAA Tournament. Players such as Peter Henkhaus, Connor McClelland, Ryan Fazio, Griffin Fleming, Holden Patterson, and Anthony Orsini will need to play large roles on offense.

The defense has some large holes to fill. Nick Grill reportedly entered his name into the transfer portal, so his status returning is up in the air. If he doesn’t return, P.J. Cox will be the only returning defenseman that started a game in 2019. Marquette could have LSM Moey Lardy move up to close as well, with Luke Anderson a reliable two-way midfielder. John Hulsman returns in cage along with Jared Hershman as their top FOGO.

A new era begins in Wisconsin in terms of coaches, players, and their new facility the university opened up in March.